Government Consults on Flexible Working.

Earlier this year, an independent review was published on how best to implement the Government's intention to extend the right to request flexible working arrangements. The review recommended that the right be extended to those with parental responsibility for children aged 16 and under and that this should be done in a single step, rather than phased in over time.

The Government has announced its intention to implement the change with effect from April 2009.

The review also recommended that businesses would benefit from increased information and guidance on dealing with requests for flexible working and that more should be done to raise awareness of the right, both among employers and employees.

The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has launched a consultation on implementing the recommendations of the review. One suggestion is that the need for an employer to send a formal letter, when agreeing to an employee's request to change their working pattern, should be removed.

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